Suppose you want to replace a perhaps cracked brick in the middle of a wall. Any tips for the best way of getting mortar all round it?
- posted
15 years ago
Suppose you want to replace a perhaps cracked brick in the middle of a wall. Any tips for the best way of getting mortar all round it?
Poking it in with a 1/4" thick stick,put the mortar on a plasteres trowl or float and push it in from both sides if possible? Put the trowel level with side and top holes because you will have slopped some one the base of the hole already so there's no need to put any there.
Mix the mortar so it doesn't slump, whack some up the back, sides and base of the hole. Push in brick and knock it into position with a rubber mallet or lump hammer and block of wood. Have more mortar on a float and push it into the top gap with a suitably sized bit of scrap. One obviously tried to judge the amount of mortar placed into the opening such that there isn't "too much" to squish out of the way with the brick but enough so that intimate contact is formed.
Assuming a cavity wall. Get a few large round party balloons and put at least 3 inside one another, the outer ones just to reduce puncture likelihood. Place in the hole pulling the inner balloon neck towards you, to blow it u,p and tie off when inflated enough, may need a pump unless you're a tube player and then let go. Then the wet works, the balloon will deflate/perish over time.
-- General electronic repairs, most things repaired, other than TVs and PCs
And now in English...
I found it very easy to understand.
It's an extremely intelligent and effective way of using a balloon to stop mortar falling into the cavity and avoid the risk of bridging the damp proof course.
Sure'but have you ever tried putting a balloon within a balloon and then put another balloon inside the two balloons?
And to be honest this idea is irrelevant as any mortar will drop off the other side as its packed in and pushed forward.
I think it would be easier to put a balloon within a balloon and then put the two balloons inside another balloon ... ;-)
No it won't. The balloons are there to help prevent that. Of course you could push the mortar in *really hard*, just to prove the balloon idea didn't work ...
Ingenious - but my house has solid walls.
:-)
Told him it was irrelevant.
Dave Plowman (News) was thinking very hard :
Get a bit of wooden dowel, a bit narrower than the mortar gaps. Mortar the top of the brick below, then ease the new brick in using a trowel to support/ ease it in to position on the bed. Square it up, then push mortar into place off the top of the trowel - rather than push it straight in, push it in at an angle filling the sides then the top. Pushed in carefully at an angle, the mortar will tend to wedge itself in tight, rather than fall out through the back.
Thanks for all the tips - but no one had a magic way. ;-) One thing most missed - fill the frog before inserting the brick otherwise you'll spend more time ramming in the mortar.
In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes
"Vunce upon a time die kleine hansel und gretel ..."
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